Get the most out of the NAB Convention with our quick guide

By Las Vegas Magazine Staff April 6, 2018

Welcome, NAB attendees! We know you won’t always be enjoying the latest in furnishing trends at the Las Vegas Convention Center, so we’ve compiled a resource to help you make the most of your downtime while you're in town—time-saving tips, the best places to eat (and recommended dishes for each) and much more. Enjoy!

I Am the Greatest: Muhammad Ali

Attractions

Bally’s

Real Bodies at Bally’s A fascinating display of preserved human bodies shows what makes us tick, divided into sections like Rhythm, Move, Think, Love and Beginnings. A place for serious introspection.

Bellagio

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art Check out the current exhibit running through Sept. 30: I Am the Greatest: Muhammad Ali. Browse unseen footage, photographs and personal artifacts of the famed boxer and cultural icon.

Conservatory and Botanical Garden Get lost in a world made of flowers. The current exhibit, Tour of Italy, boasts 57,000 flowers that make up the scenic European display along with 560 shrubs, 52 trees and thousands of ivy.

Fountains of Bellagio Watch the water dance to music throughout the day and pretend you are in any number of movies that have showcased it, most notably Ocean’s Eleven.

Carnival Midway and Circus Acts Perhaps there is no more fun way to spend a few hours than by watching clowns and playing old-school games while trying to win prizes.

Flamingo

Wildlife Habitat This free attraction transports you to exotic worlds. Check out flamingos, ringed teal ducks, sacred ibis, swans, turtles, pelicans and many more spread across the lush 15-acre grounds.

Golden Nugget

Shark Tank Tour Marine biologists lead expeditions at the 200,000-gallon shark tank. It’ll be shark week every week as you learn more about these unique creatures and get a behind-the-scenes look.

The Linq

Auto Collections Not only do you get to see antique, famous and historic cars, but you can actually buy them. There are more than $100 million worth of spectacular machines on display here.

The Linq Promenade

High Roller The world’s highest observation wheel—550 feet tall—allows tourists to relax in spacious domes as they get some of the best views in the city. You can even ride a pod with a fully stocked bar for a memorable happy hour!

Luxor

Bodies ... The Exhibition An exploration of all aspects of the human body. Through a process called plastination, bodies are displayed in various states of activity, from simple movements to sports.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition History buffs will love this comprehensive, multiroom tour with artifacts, pictures and even a huge piece of the ship.

Mandalay Bay

Shark Reef Aquarium Yes, it has sharks, but there’s much more. Exotic and rare fish, lush scenery and even the opportunity to touch stingrays.

MGM Grand

CSI: The Experience Who are you? If the answer is someone who has the ability to catch a killer, use your crime-solving skills in forensic crime labs.

Topgolf Las Vegas It’s like golf meets dance club with food, drinks and live music. Even folks who aren’t golf fans will find plenty to enjoy here.

Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat Options include Trainer for a Day, Painting with the Dolphins and Yoga with the Dolphins. You also can see tigers, lions and leopards, but sorry—no yoga available with them.

New York New York

The Big Apple Roller Coaster Want to do a loop-the-loop and see a replica of the Statue of Liberty? This coaster, which actually goes through the hotel and around the exterior, is a thrill ride with an awesome view of the Strip.

Paris

Eiffel Tower Experience The Observation Deck of the Eiffel Tower is 46 stories up and offers a 360-degree view of the city—perfect to share with that special someone. It’s also a great place to catch one of the Bellagio fountain shows.

Hexx Chocolate Tasting and Tour This shop offers you the chance to see cacao beans turned into chocolate, try single-origin chocolate and satisfy your sweet tooth. And the 24-hour Hexx restaurant features the chocolates in many of its desserts.

Rio

KISS by Monster Mini Golf Rock ’n’ roll all night and party every day while sharpening your putting skills in an environment inspired by America’s favorite costumed band.

VooDoo Zipline Start at the VooDoo Lounge 50 stories up and end 800 feet away at the Ipanema Tower. Then you get to do it all again—but backwards.

Stratosphere

Insanity, Big Shot and X Scream Three rides, all more than 1,000 feet up in the air. Swing out over the side on Insanity, shoot to the top of Stratosphere on Big Shot and teeter-totter over the edge on X Scream.

Observation Decks At 1,149 feet high, this is the highest free-standing observation tower in the country. Views of all directions of the city will leave you mesmerized.

Skyjump Las Vegas Free fall from 829 feet in the air at over 40 mph in the current world record holder for highest controlled descent. Day, night or sunset jumps will give you the rush you’ve been craving.

Treasure Island

Marvel’s Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. For those who don’t know their comic books, that stands for Scientific Training And Tactical Intelligence Operative Network. Download the app on your iPhone, go deep into the Marvel Universe and come out a S.T.A.T.I.O.N. agent.

The Venetian

Gondola Rides Get your Italian on in these romantic boats as you ride through tunnels and canals inside the mall. Your gondolier will serenade you the entire trip.

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas See your favorite stars—sort of. Actors, singers, athletes and politicians all get the famous Madame Tussauds treatment in this museum featuring wax life-size replicas of celebrities. Get your camera out and make like a paparazzi!

Streetmosphere Living statues take things up a notch from Venice Beach, here at St. Marks Square. Artiste del Arte, a band of roving trained musicians, play beautiful music to unsuspecting shoppers.

Photo: Peter Harasty

Ma la fish at Blossom

Fine Dining

Aria

Blossom Choose your own adventure from the 100-plus dishes at this Chinese eatery, everything from kung pao chicken to geoduck two ways. Recommended dish: Peking duck

Ruth’s Chris Steak House Steak comes with sizzle at this American favorite, which serves its cuts on 500-degree plates. Start with crab cakes before getting down to beefy business. Recommended dish: Filet

Luxor

Tender Steak & Seafood A twist on the traditional steakhouse. Not feeling beefy? Consider the bison ribeye or scallops with bacon and quinoa. Recommended dish: Game tasting trio

Tom Colicchio’s Heritage Steak Modern Chinese gets a stylish setting at Fin, where take out standards are amplified with fresh ingredients and from-scratch sauces. Recommended dish: Mongolian beef

New York-New York

Gallagher’s Steakhouse White tablecloths and red meat, that’s the vibe at this outpost of this N.Y. institution, which specializes in prime beef dry-aged on the premises. Recommended dish: Dry-aged New York strip

The Orleans

Alder & Birch Start with cocktails at this modern take on the steakhouse, then pick and choose sides and starters to build a perfect meal around expertly cooked beef. Recommended dish: Lobster mac

The Palazzo

Lavo Come for the pasta, stay for the party at this Stripside restaurant, where the menu hews toward Italian classics. Recommended dish: The meatball with whipped ricotta

Eiffel Tower Restaurant Some of the Strip’s best views are from this 11th-floor dining room, where Chef Joho delivers fine French fare like foie gras torchon and butter-poached scallops. Recommended dish: Eiffel Tower soufflé

Plaza

Oscar’s The tagline is “beef, booze and broads,” and Oscar’s, named for former Mayor Oscar Goodman, has the first two covered. Start with a gin martini, then explore the varied menu. Recommended dish: Johnny Quinn’s crab cake

Bazaar Meat by José Andrés Choosing is the hard part at this SLS “meaterie,” where carnivores are beckoned by a bevy of earthly delights. Recommended dish: Suckling pig

Stratosphere

Top of the World Dinner tastes better at 800 feet. Come for the view, but stay for the excellent continental cooking, like lobster thermidor or duck confit with pommes Anna. Recommended dish: Lobster bisque

Tropicana

Robert Irvine's Public House Comfort food gets a glorious spin at the celebrity chef’s decked-out restaurant. Recommended dish: The F&K Burger, meant to be eaten with—what else?—a fork and knife

Vista Cocktail Lounge at Caesars Palace This lounge’s technological wonders—LED views of everything from Manhattan’s cityscape to nighttime over the city of Shanghai—are almost as good as its handcrafted cocktails.

Carnaval Court at Harrah’s It’s always a wild time at this outdoor spot that has some of the best flair bartenders in the city. Blackjack tables and live bands add to the excitement.

Minus5 Ice Bar at Mandalay Bay Can’t stand the heat? Step inside this bar made completely of ice. Sip cocktails in ice glasses while donning a parka or faux-fur coat while kicking back in freezing temps.

Level Up at MGM Grand Drinking and gaming collide at this adults-only interactive playground. Try out the world’s largest Pac-Man or Golfstream, an indoor laser golf course, or try your hand at beer pong, life-size Jenga, foosball and more.

The Dorsey at The Venetian Swank, sexy and superb cocktails make up one of the Strip’s newest lounges. The cocktail menu here features some of the best recipes in the city and the low lighting, plush seating and old-school hip-hop sounds make this spot a must-try.

Gilley’s at Treasure Island There’s the bull-riding, beautiful Gilley’s Girls complete with chaps and cowboy hats, line dancing and barbecue. The Stripside country bar is a slice of wild, down-home fun.

Downtown Cocktail Room After you are inside, you’ll experience some of the best cocktail creations in the entire city, and the downtempo beats by live DJs help set the mood for this longtime favorite downtown bar where the hip locals flock.

Atomic Liquors Combine a bit of nostalgia and Vegas history with some of the latest trends in cocktail mixology at one of the city’s first-ever freestanding bars in the culturally revived downtown area.